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Bcl-2 Proteins

Meaning

A critical family of regulatory proteins that govern the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis, or programmed cell death, by controlling mitochondrial outer membrane permeability. These proteins are divided into pro-survival members, such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, and pro-apoptotic members, including Bax and Bak. The dynamic balance between these opposing forces determines a cell’s fate, influencing tissue turnover, immune function, and cellular longevity.